F. Biermann (Frank)http://repub.eur.nl/ppl/55180/
List of Publicationsenhttp://repub.eur.nl/eur_signature.pnghttp://repub.eur.nl/
RePub, Erasmus University RepositorySurveillance in patients with long-segment Barrett's oesophagus: A cost-effectiveness analysishttp://repub.eur.nl/pub/57358/
Fri, 18 Jul 2014 00:00:01 GMT<div>F. Kastelein</div><div>S. van Olphen</div><div>E.W. Steyerberg</div><div>M. Sikkema</div><div>V.M.C.W. Spaander</div><div>C.W.N. Looman</div><div>E.J. Kuipers</div><div>P.D. Siersema</div><div>M.J. Bruno</div><div>E.W. de Bekker-Grob</div><div>F. Biermann</div><div>H. Geldof</div><div>H. van der Valk</div><div>P.C.J. ter Borg</div><div>R.W.M. Giard</div><div>R.J.F. Felt</div><div>C.J.L.M. Meijer</div><div>J. Alderliesten</div><div>R. Heinhuis</div><div>F. ter Borg</div><div>J.W. Arends</div><div>J.J. Kolkman</div><div>J. Van Baarlen</div><div>T.G. Tan</div><div>B. den Hartog</div><div>A.J.P. van Tilburg</div><div>L.G.J.B. Engels</div><div>W. Vos</div><div>F.T. Peters</div><div>A. Karrenbeld</div><div>B.E. Schenk</div><div>F. Moll</div><div>R. Loffeld</div><div>M. Flens</div><div>H. van Roermund</div><div>J.H.M. Lockefeer</div>
Objective Surveillance is recommended for Barrett's oesophagus (BO) to detect early oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of surveillance. Design We included 714 patients with long-segment BO in a multicentre prospective cohort study and used a multistate Markov model to calculate progression rates from no dysplasia (ND) to low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and OAC. Progression rates were incorporated in a decision-analytic model, including costs and quality of life data. We evaluated different surveillance intervals for ND and LGD, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and oesophagectomy for HGD or early OAC and oesophagectomy for advanced OAC. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated in costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Results The annual progression rate was 2% for ND to LGD, 4% for LGD to HGD or early OAC and 25% for HGD or early OAC to advanced OAC. Surveillance every 5 or 4 years with RFA for HGD or early OAC and oesophagectomy for advanced OAC had ICERs of €5.283 and €62.619 per QALY for ND. Surveillance every five to one year had ICERs of €4.922, €30.067, €32.531, €41.499 and €75.601 per QALY for LGD. EMR prior to RFA was slightly more expensive, but important for tumour staging. Conclusions Based on a Dutch healthcare perspective and assuming a willingness-to-pay threshold of €35.000 per QALY, surveillance with EMR and RFA for HGD or early OAC, and oesophagectomy for advanced OAC is cost-effective every 5 years for ND and every 3 years for LGD.MRI features of inflammatory hepatocellular adenomas on hepatocyte phase imaging with liver-specific contrast agentshttp://repub.eur.nl/pub/65459/
Thu, 01 Aug 2013 00:00:01 GMT<div>M. Thomeer</div><div>F.E.J.A. Willemssen</div><div>F. Biermann</div><div>H. El Addouli</div><div>R.A. de Man</div><div>J.N.M. IJzermans</div><div>S. Dwarkasing</div>
Purpose: To evaluate the presentation of inflammatory hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) on hepatocyte phase MRI. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the MRI features of histologically proven HCAs on hepatocyte phase imaging. Twenty-one lesions (17 with inflammatory subtype) were scanned with gadobenate dimeglumine. Signal intensities of the lesions were assessed in the hepatocyte phase and on the T1-weighted sequences before contrast. Results: After gadobenate dimeglumine injection, 71% (12/17) of the inflammatory HCAs showed areas of iso- or hyperintensity to the surrounding liver in the hepatocyte phase. In 82% (10/12) of the iso- or hyperintense lesions, this was found over more than 75% of the lesion surface. None of the noninflammatory HCAs showed areas of iso- or hyperintensity to the surrounding liver in the hepatocyte phase. From these 12, 7 were hyperintense on T1-weighting before contrast due to liver steatosis, 2 due to intrinsic hyperintensity (on the in-phase sequence), and 3 were isointense. Conclusion: In contrast to noninflammatory HCAs, inflammatory HCAs can show areas of iso- to hyperintensity to the surrounding liver in the hepatocyte phase; therefore, other typical imaging features should also be used to distinguish between HCAs and FNHs.Osteopontin is a prognostic factor for survival of acute myeloid leukemia patientshttp://repub.eur.nl/pub/66166/
Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:00:01 GMT<div>R. Liersch</div><div>J. Gerss</div><div>C. Schliemann</div><div>T. Bayer</div><div>C. Schwöppe</div><div>F. Biermann</div><div>I. Appelmann</div><div>T. Kessler</div><div>B. Löwenberg</div><div>T. Büchner</div><div>W. Hiddemann</div><div>C. Müller-Tidow</div><div>W.E. Berdel</div><div>I. Mesters</div>
Osteopontin (OPN) is a glycoprotein that is secreted by osteoblasts and hematopoietic cells. OPN suppresses the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in vitro and may regulate the hematopoietic stem cell pool. Increased serum OPN concentrations occur in chronic myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the present study, we analyzed the prognostic impact of OPN in AML by investigating the expression and relevance of OPN in newly diagnosed AML patients from 2 large study groups (the German AML Cooperative Group and the Dutch-Belgian Hematology Oncology Cooperative group). IHC (n = 84), ELISAs of blood/BM sera (n = 41), and microarray data for mRNA levels (n = 261) were performed. Expression of OPN protein was increased in AML patients both in BM blasts (IHC) and in BM serum (ELISA) compared with healthy controls. Patients expressing high levels of OPN within the BM (IHC) experienced shortened overall survival (OS; P = .025). Multivariate analysis identified karyotype, blast clearance (day 16), and the level of OPN expression as independent prognostic factors for OS. This prompted us to analyze microarray data from 261 patients from a third cohort. The analysis confirmed OPN as a prognostic marker. In summary, high OPN mRNA expression indicated decreased eventfree survival (P = .0002) and OS (P = .001). The prognostic role of OPN was most prominent in intermediate-risk AML. These data provide evidence that OPN expression is an independent prognostic factor in AML.'Planetary boundaries'-exploring the challenges for global environmental governancehttp://repub.eur.nl/pub/34979/
Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT<div>V. Galaz</div><div>F. Biermann</div><div>B. Crona</div><div>D.A. Loorbach</div><div>C. Folke</div><div>P.G. Olsson</div><div>M. Nilsson</div><div>J. Allouche</div><div>Å. Persson</div><div>G. Reischl</div>
A range of studies from Earth system scientists argue that human activities drive multiple, interacting effects that cascade through the Earth system. Recent contributions state and quantify nine, interacting 'planetary boundaries' with possible threshold effects. This article provides an overview of the global governance challenges that follow from this notion of multiple, interacting and possibly non-linear 'planetary boundaries'. Here we discuss four interrelated global environmental governance challenges, as well as some possible ways to address them. The four identified challenges are related to, first, the interplay between Earth system science and global policies, and the implications of differences in risk perceptions in defining these boundaries; second, the capacity of international institutions to deal with individual 'planetary boundaries', as well as interactions between them; third, the role of international organizations in dealing with 'planetary boundaries' interactions; and fourth, the role of global governance in framing social-ecological innovations.